ONE HEART. ONE COMMITMENT. ONE LIFE.

LYG 2019

DAY FOUR: Lasallian Youth Gathering

With the end of the gathering only hours away, there was a saddened mood the morning of day 4 of LYG as friendships anticipate goodbyes. But as you walk into a room of music and good vibes – the smiles beamed, and the children danced, because LYG wasnt over just yet. The LYG Band led the iconic songs ‘Peace like a river’, and ‘We are Lasallian’. Lachie and Eliza led the group in a summary of the last few days – recalling great memories and social media updates. After a few icebreakers, Director of Lasallian Mission Council, Merv McCormack, greeted the Young Lasallians. Br Bob Schaeffer also made an appearance, ed-ucating the audience on the heritage of St John

Baptist de La Salle and the significance of not just the Tercentenary of his death, but the days in which he was alive. The ‘Living your best life’ came full circle when Franco De Joya performed a new poem he had written as a wrap up of LYG.

Opening the day with a prayer was De La Salle College, Bankstown. The final workshop involved Lasallians in all Professions, describing that no matter what career path you choose, you can always live the Lasallian lifestyle. Small groups were the last chance to connect with other del-egates. Questions of ‘What can you do back in your community? What has been your highlight of

ONE HEART.

ONE COMMITMENT.

ONE LIFE.

LYG2019

LYG?’ sparked conversations within those small groups.

The final liturgy combined LYG with APLEC, which wrapped up the last four days of fun, praise and insight. The liturgy in-cluded a reflection from leaders in education in Papua New Guinea “I am here, here I am, right now, open”. Before per-forming his poem ‘One’, Franco De Joya said, “it has been my Lasallian education and experience that has shown me that education is liberation.” He had the room tearful and open to the idea that ‘one’ isn’t lonely at all if you open the door to say YES. There was anointing by the oil distribut-ed through every member of the audience, anointing each other with the words “Live Jesus in our hearts”. There was a moment of peace while participants anointed each other.

Each of us are significant in the eyes of God, but after the last four days, we learned that each of us are significant in the eyes of each other. Br David Hawke ended the Liturgy with a beautiful blessing on all of us, every Lasallian had their hand on each other’s shoulder and chanted the Ter-centenary song ‘We are Lasallian’ song one last time. There was a major sense of solidarity in the room – everyone had connected in the intense four days. Every hug was cher-ished, and as you walked out the door, you were handed a little bottle of anointed oil with the sticker of the Tercentenary as a constant reminder of the time we had together in Mel-